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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam
The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.
Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.
Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!
Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.
Click here to report a problem with this page.
Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "dear sir/madam" (a standard Nigerian greeting phrase)
- "trunk box" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "trunk boxes" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Godfrey Kufor Henshaw" (may be fake)
Date: Sun, 11 Dec 2011 23:46:58 -0000
Subject: TRANSFER OF US$85.9MILLION. EMAIL ME BACK IMMEDIATELY.
Attn: This Offer may interest you:
Dear Sir/Madam,
The sum of US$85.9million was concealed in a 5 Trunk Boxes and deposited with a Private Security Company in the Republic of Ghana by a Top Government Official (Name Withheld) and hereinafter seeks your Partnership for the evacuation of these Cash Funds out of the Country for intelligent Safekeeping.
The person in question is a Presidential Aspirant for the 2012 Presidential Election in the Republic of Ghana. Your reward for participating in this risk free Business Deal will be 40% of the aforementioned Funds only if interested, ready and willing to fly to Ghana to stand as the Owner cum Beneficiary of the said amount before the Security Company for possible claiming. Send your Private Telephone Numbers for discussion of this offer in full details.
Thank you.
Yours Respectfully,
Godfrey Kufor Henshaw
Republic of Ghana
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Anti-fraud resources:
